On a 2009 episode of Real Time with Bill Maher, Family Guy creator
Seth MacFarlane was asked what he thought of the movement toward atheism which
was then gaining momentum (a self-serving question if ever there was one, since
Maher also used the opportunity to plug his pro-atheism documentary
Religulous). MacFarlane exclaimed, “I think it’s about f***ing time.” Given
Family Guy’s habitual use of blasphemous imagery and language on his
various shows, it comes as no surprise that MacFarlane would concoct a scene in
which a pornographic film is shown in the middle of a church service. The
Sunday, January 16th episode of Family Guy (9:00 p.m. ET)
centered on Lois’ secret lurid past, showcasing pornographic images and dialogue
which earned the program the title of Worst TV Show of the Week.

In a convoluted set-up, Lois befriends the magnetic new anchor of the local
evening news, Joyce Kinney. They bond, sharing intimate secrets about their
lives. Lois reveals that she once starred in a porno flick. In the next news
broadcast, the Griffins are shocked as they watch Joyce’s expose on
pornography…with Lois as the main culprit:

Joyce: “Pornography. The very word conjures up images of red-light districts,
unprotected sex, and of course the turn of the century pornograph machine. But
it seems pornography has finally found its way to our neighborhood. Yes, local
housewife and church organist Lois Griffin has revealed to this reporter that
she appeared in a pornographic movie back in the early 1980's.”

The title of the film in which Lois starred is revealed to be “Quest for Fur.”
As it turns out, Joyce had been bullied by Lois in high school, and the segment
exposing her was Joyce’s act of retribution.

Lois tries to find solace in church, but the priest and entire congregation
ostracize her. In order to preemptively stem the gossip, Lois confronts the
congregation by actually playing the porno at church. She introduces the film
thusly:

Lois: “Who did Jesus hang around with? Mary Magdalene. And who was she? A
prostitute. Which means, if she had cameras back then I bet she would have done
a porno. And if she did, I know that Jesus would have forgiven her.”

The camera focuses on a patch of hair, perhaps pubic. The camera widens to
reveal that it is the underarm hair of a caveman. Lois enters the scene dressed
as a cavewoman. They start to neck, tonguing each other grotesquely. The caveman
takes off her underwear; her crotch is obscured by a parishioner's head. Brian,
the dog, looks down at his crotch, as a woman twists her lipstick applicator to
elongate the red cosmetics (meant to suggest Brian is having an erection). The
priest reacts, “I know I'm a man of God, but that (bleeped s***) is hot!”, as
the whole congregation erupts in applause.

Religion is often ridiculed and belittled on television; but no program offends
more rudely than Family Guy. For this it has been named Worst TV
Show of the Week.

Parents Television Council,
www.parentstv.org, PTC,
Clean Up TV Now, Because our children are watching, The
nation's most influential advocacy organization, Protecting
children against sex, violence and profanity in
entertainment, Parents Television Council Seal of Approval,
and Family Guide to Prime Time Television
are trademarks of the Parents Television Council.